The Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) in collaboration with the County Government of Busia, has launched indoor residual spraying (IRS) to reduce malaria prevalence in the County.
Speaking to the press after the official launch of the exercise, Ismail Abey of the National Malaria Control Program said that the prevalence of Malaria in Busia, was still high at 39 percent currently.
“There is no other County that has malaria prevalence than Busia, hence, the reason why we have come here to reduce this burden of malaria,” Abey said.
Abey added that the initiative will be implemented alongside other methods of malaria prevention, including mass distribution of the long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, which is slated for March this year.
“The mass distribution of mosquito nets is currently ongoing in 22 counties, but we have delayed one for Busia, because we want to implement the IRS first,” he said.
Busia Chief Officer for Health, Susan Outa, thanked President William Ruto, for mobilizing the required resources to ensure that the County benefits from the malaria control intervention.
“I also want to thank the PMI Kinga Malariateam, who will be with us to conduct the first to the third round, to help us in this exercise,” she said.
Outa further said that the team of those who will be carrying out the exercise has already been trained and community health promoters, are also engaged in the mobilization exercise.
She assured that the insecticide that is being used to curb the malaria menace, was safe to the target groups, including mothers and young children.
“I want to urge the residents to embrace this initiative,” she said, adding that the County stands a chance of benefiting from it.
The Chief Officer at the same time said that other malaria intervention initiatives, will also continue to be implemented.
“We are having malaria vaccines for the under two-year-olds, the mass net distribution that has been here periodically and the case management with medication,” she said, adding that the Community Health Promoters will also continue with health education.
Dr. Outa further urged security agencies to be on the lookout for those who might take advantage of the exercise to steal from the unsuspecting residents.
“We are confident that the exercise is being carried out by people who are trained,” she said, adding that the drug is safe, and the health facilities are ready to handle any emergencies.
Indoor Residual Spraying has been carried out in Homa Bay County leading to the reduction of malaria prevalence from 27 percent to 3 percent.
By Salome Alwanda
